WATCH | Santaco denies social media claims of passenger ban, calls reports ‘false and misleading’

Santaco

Cape Town – The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) has denied claims that it instructed motorists not to carry passengers, calling reports “false and misleading.”

Videos circulating on social media suggested Santaco members were preventing drivers from carrying family, friends, or colleagues and allegedly damaging cars.

Santaco said it has no authority to enforce private vehicle regulations and urged the public to report any harassment to law enforcement.

“We wish to place it on record that Santaco has never issued such a communication and has never imposed any mode of transport on the public. Any individual making such claims is not, and has never been, speaking on behalf of the council,” Santaco spokesperson Mmatshikhidi Rebecca Phala said.

She added: “Like all other paid-for transport services, taxi operations are voluntary and remain a choice available to commuters. For clarity, only law enforcement authorities hold the legal mandate to enforce regulations relating to transport in South Africa.

“We encourage members of the public to report any incidents of harassment or unlawful enforcement directly to law enforcement agencies.”

“Santaco is not a law enforcement agency and does not have authority to impose or enforce regulations on private vehicles or motorists.

“Santaco is a recognised structure, as affirmed by the 2020 National Taxi Lekgotla, mandated to oversee and coordinate affiliated taxi structures. These include mini bus taxis, metered taxis and independent scholar transport operators. Our role is to promote a safe, reliable and regulated public transport service within the framework of the South African constitution and applicable legislation.”

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